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Speech
and Hearing
By
Mrs. Maya Sanghi,
Speech
and Language Pathologist
In every child, the development of
speech and language is an ongoing process, beginning at birth. The
period from 0-5 years is recognised as important for all aspects of development
in a child, including 'hearing', 'language' and 'speech'. Each month,
the baby matures in each of these three interwoven areas, and gradually
learns the skill of communication with those around him. The development
of communication skill is essential for every child's emotional, social
and intellectual development.
Although it may seem that babies
just develop speech naturally, without trying to put in much effort, acquisition
of 'language' for communication through speech is an extraordinarily complex
process. Most parents are not even aware of how the process unfolds.
They frequently do not realise the importance of their role in helping
child develop adequate communication skills. Some developmental skills,
such as crawling, sitting, standing and walking seem to occur without much
help. "Learning to talk" must be taught by parents and adults around
the child. Without the right kind of help at the right time, the
child may learn the communication skill later, improperly, or not at all.
If parents can familiarize themselves with the process of communication
development and how children learn to talk, they can offer great help in
this important aspect of growth and development. To familiarise the
parent with the process in this area, we begin with listing down the pre-requisites
for normal development of speech and language for communication.
1. Normal Hearing:
Speech and hearing is acquired primarily
through hearing. The maturation of a child's hearing occurs systematically
in early months and the child gradually learns to comprehend the spoken
language. Then, through initiation and adult speech, the child learns
to express himself through speech.
2. Stimulating Environment:
A stimulating environment, i.e.,
an environment which provides adequate verbal interactions with family
members and peers, is necessary.
3. Normal Intelligence:
To acquire language, a child must
have the mental capacity to reason, to make associations and generalizations,
and to store items in memory. In other words, a child can talk only
as well as he can think.
4. Normal Coordination of Body
Movements:
Since speech is a very rapid and
complex motor art, it requires finely tuned neurological regulation and
normal coordination of body movements controlled by the brain.
5. Normal functioning of Voice
Organs:
Normal structures and functioning
of lips, tongue, palate and voice box (larynx) is necessary for speech.
6. Adequate physical and Emotional
Health:
Adequate physical and emotional
health of the child is necessary to support the growth of language.
Physical and emotional illnesses can affect, restrict and distort relationships
with family members.
A number of communicative disorders
are known to result if any of the above pre-requisites are not fulfilled.
A variety of factors could prevent the availability of these pre-requisites.
(These will be discussed in detail in the upcoming articles). However,
timely intervention can prevent the limiting effects of such disorders.
In case of any doubts, consult an audiologist and speech-language pathologist
at the earliest.
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